Posted by Henry on May 02, 19104 at 22:58:05:

In Reply to: Focusing on outcome instead- just for you Martha posted by Lisa on May 02, 19104 at 22:16:09:

Great work pulling everything together! I would just like to add a few closing remarks.

Lisa is dead on in mentioning that Milton shows us this story from many different perspectives, as it was seen by the "Heavenly Muse." Keep in mind that this story is not necessarily true and it sure contradicts some of the things the Bible says. Paradise Lost is simply an opinion Milton wants his readers to ponder and discuss (he has done excellent work in regards to this I must say!). Maybe there is no right or wrong way to intuperet Paradise Lost and the story was just written to invoke thought, especially to Christian readers. Milton presents Satan in an entirely different light than most are used to. Satan possess certain human qualities, such as pride and vengence, which are seen as sins in God's eyes. By Milton giving us Satan's point of view, we can begin to sympathize slightly with him since we, meaning mankind, are similar in that we to have committed sins.

This brings me to mans role in all this. From mankinds point of view, we naturally see Satan as a villain since he is the actual tempter. However, we as a race are not guilt free. We did after all fall for the bait. Was the fall fated or not? In response to this I would like to re-iterate a few lines: "By some false guile pervert: and shall pervert (Book III, line 92)." This makes it seem like the fall is definitely fated since God can see it happening before it occurs. However, since as humans we can never or should never try to fully understand God, we do not know the extent of his omnicent powers. Maybe he can see many outcomes and he is not completely positive as to which one will occur, that is left up to the choice made by mankind themselves. God may have a final destiny for mankind, but there may be many different roads to get there, thus giving mankind free will: "I made him just and right/Sufficient to have stood, though free to fall (lines 98-99)."

As far as God's viewpoint through the eyes of Milton's Muse, God is presented as slighty bitter and misleading. Many times he gets angry at man (lines have already been sighted - book III 97-98) or he becomes short with us by simply answering with "so is my will (book III, line 184)." God has a good side too, however. He offers His only Son for the redemption of mankind. Without the amazing grace of His Son, a Heaven for mankind would no longer exist.

This brings me to my last point of the Son of God having the most pure view of all. He simply loves mankind so much that He is willing to sacrifice Himself without question in order to ensure their savation. This is the one and only truly selfless act that has occured throughout this story.

John Milton definitely accomplished his goal of producing a wonderful, thought provoking work such as Paradise Lost. For me, reading this work has made me re-think some of the things I have always been taught and caused me to understand the enormous weight placed on mankind's shoulders in order to prevent another fall. Some may view the fall as something terrible, but I see it as a chance to experience God's true grace in offering His Son to forgive our sins and give us ultimate salvation.

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